Charges filed in the 1998 murder of Kay Lynn Jackson

Boise, May 1, 2013 -- Boise Deputy Chief Pete Ritter and Chief of Staff for the Ada County Prosecutor's Office Jan Bennetts today announced charges have been filed in the murder of Kay Lynn Jackson. Jackson, 22 was murdered April 5, 1998. Her body was found by a fisherman that morning, beneath theAmericanaBridge. She had been raped and murdered. At the time of her death, Kay Lynn was carrying her bible and walking to church. It was Palm Sunday, 1998. Charged: Patrick Jon Zacharias, 40 -- Rape, 1st degree Murder Zacharias currently resides in the Idaho State Correctional Facility inBoisewhere he has been since he was convicted of an unrelated crime in February, 2007. Detectives say a scientific evidence provided a major break in the case. "We want to thank Kay Lynn's family for the trust they placed in our police department that this day would come," said Boise Deputy Chief Pete Ritter. "It's been 15 years of investigation that have had moments of promise and frustration. More than 1,000 leads, some followed several times, some that led to other states and even other countries were all investigated, before finally being able to focus on a suspect right here in Boise. "The lead detective, Mark Ayotte has worked this case since Kay Lynn's death. His case files have stayed on his desk, never more than an arm's length away. Detective Ayotte led a team that includes officers, investigators and support staff fromBoise, all overIdahoand indeed all over the country. Their hard work has led to this critical point in a case that has touched so many lives for 15 years." "Kay Lynn's case is an example of how law enforcement is never idle and ever vigilant in solving cold cases in the pursuit of justice," said Jan Bennetts, Chief of Staff for the Ada County Prosecutors Office. "It is an example of how investigators take a fresh look at their cold cases with each scientific advancement and with each and every lead." The charges in this case are merely accusations. Zacharias is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.